MEXICO: A 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattled much of central Mexico on Thursday, including the capital, triggering people to evacuate into the streets, as reported by the country’s seismological institute.
Mexico City, home to nine million people, experienced the tremors, but there were no immediate reports of damage, according to Mayor Marti Batres, as communicated on social media.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador received a briefing from civil protection officials and later mentioned in a video post, “apparently the quake was not that strong. In any case, we will release more information soon.”
The earthquake activated the country’s warning siren system, with the epicenter identified in the central state of Puebla. While several towns in Puebla felt the quake, initial reports suggested no damage or injuries.
Given Mexico’s location over five tectonic plates, it remains highly susceptible to earthquakes, particularly along the Pacific coast. The infamous 1985 earthquake, registering 8.1 in magnitude and centered on the Pacific coast, caused extensive devastation in central and southern Mexico, resulting in numerous casualties.
In 2017, a 7.1-magnitude quake struck on September 19, claiming 369 lives, with the majority of fatalities reported in the capital. On the same date in 2022, central Mexico experienced another quake, occurring just hours after millions participated in a simulated earthquake safety exercise.
